Ile Maurice, Mauritius Hotels and City Guide

Ile Maurice - Outdoor Attractions

Mauritius' Best Beaches

It is for its many idyllic powder-fine white beaches and calm lagoons protected by coral reefs that visitors flock to Mauritius to step off the world and recharge their batteries. They are without a doubt the prime attraction, mostly shaded by palms and casuarinas, all offering various watersports.

Fine beaches are found around the coast except for the south which is rugged, not having the protection of coral reefs.

Belle Mare
Belle Mare on the east coast, north of Ile aux Cerfs, is one of the loveliest beaches with a deep lagoon and shady trees along the edge of the beach.

Ile aux Cerfs
Ile aux Cerfs, the island off the east coast seemingly floating on an aquamarine ocean separated from the main island by a picture-perfect lagoon, is run by Touessrok Hotel, a popular haunt of European royals and celebrities. It is regarded as the most beautiful of Mauritius’s beaches. The island has luxuriant tropical vegetation providing welcome shade from the blistering tropical sun. Regular ferries ply the waters between Trou d’Eau Douce, a fishing village, and the small island. Residents of Touessrok Hotel have the use of the hotel launch.

Blue Bay
Further south on the east coast not far from the airport, Blue Bay, fringed with casuarina trees, offers excellent bathing.

Le Morne
The 3km-long Le Morne beach on the peninsula on the southwest coast with towering Le Morne Brabant providing a dramatic backdrop is good for kite-surfing.

Flic en Flac
Flic en Flac is the most popular public beach on the west coast with shallow waters protected by the reef. The talc-white coral beaches on this strip of coast stretch for miles where there is a high concentration of hotels.

Trou aux Biches
Trou aux Biches situated on the northwest coast 14km north of Port Louis is spectacular with perfect swimming conditions in a turquoise sea and sparkling lagoon, coconut palms and the ubiquitous casuarinas bordering the beach. Breathtaking sunsets are a feature of this 2km-long stretch of shimmering sand.

Mont Choissy Bay
The clear waters of crescent-shaped Mont Choissy bay, 3kms north of Trou aux Biches, is perfect for snorkelling. Popular with locals and visitors, it is crowded over weekends.

Péreybère
Péreybère is a delightful little cove between Grand Baie and Cap Malheureux on the north coast, its deep waters offering the best bathing in Mauritius.

The Best of Mauritius' Outdoor Attractions

Apart from its dazzling beaches, Mauritius is blessed with many stunning parks, forests, mountains and other natural playgrounds to explore.

Le Domaine d’Anse Joncheé

Stretching from the scenic Bambous Mountains to the coast in the southeast not far from the airport in the Mahébourg area, this spectacular nature reserve of 3,700 acres is home to Java deer which are reared here, wild boar, monkeys, rabbits, guineafowl and endangered birds. Nature rambles of up to 15km through luxuriant tropical forests past waterfalls are enticing, or you can mountain-bike and quad-bike along the trails. Enjoy a meal at the restaurant on the highest part of the reserve with views over sweeping sugar-cane fields to the sparkling bay below where venison and seafood are specialities. Accommodation is offered in seven bungalows.

Stag hunting is available with a guide and all equipment is provided. A strict hunting quota is enforced. Taxidermy and freight can be arranged for exporting a trophy head.

Chamarel

If driving around the island, stop off to view the strange Chamarel Coloured Earths in the southwest of the country on Plaine Champagne on the central plateau, not too far from the Black River gorges. This unique geological phenomenon of seven different coloured earths - red, brown, violet, blue, purple, green and yellow - resembles undulating dunes. It is thought it resulted from volcanic rock cooling at different temperatures in separate layers.

When mixed together in glass tubes (sold at the site and at souvenir shops throughout the island), the mineral-rich sands will separate into seven different coloured layers in order of heaviness. Wooden boardwalks and a platform provide a good view of the Coloured Earths, best seen when the sun shines on them. The veil-like Chamarel Waterfalls, the highest on the island, can be seen on the way to the Coloured Earths as they plunge 100m over a rocky cliff into a pool below in lush vegetation.

As the land is part of the Bel Ombre Sugar Estate, a small entrance fee is charged.

Black River Gorges National Park

To view the island’s most spectacular scenery, take the winding mountain road from Grande Case Noyale on the southwest coast, stopping at La Varangue sur Morne restaurant on Plaine Champagne Road near Chamarel for some delicious French cuisine. Then drive past the village of Chamarel and continue through the Black River Gorges National Park on the road to La Marie. Alternatively, start in Curepipe to the east of the park.

This densely forested wilderness had been virtually destroyed by the Dutch and French colonists as they raided the rainforests for its black ebony, with more forest having being cleared for sugar plantations. Happily, since 1994, this is now a protected national park covering an area of 6,574 hectares. Several viewpoints on Plaine Champagne, the highest part of the Central Plateau, will reward you with panoramic vistas of the west coast and the luxuriant forested steep slopes of the Black River Gorges and Alexandra Falls.

Nature lovers can explore the hiking trails through the reserve (for which a permit is required) where you are likely to see the rare pink pigeon and Mauritius kestrel as well as deer, monkeys and other small creatures. Few facilities exist along the way, so ensure you have all you need with you. Camping and fires are prohibited.

Grand Bassin

Situated in the heart of Mauritius east of the Black River Gorges National Park in stunning scenery, the sacred Hindu lake, Ganga Talao, is in an extinct volcano crater surrounded by lush tropical forests. Hindus make a pilgrimage each year during Maha Shivaratree to the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva on the shore of the lake.

Casela Nature and Leisure Park
Open: Daily 0900-1800 (summer), 0900-1700 (winter)
Entrance fee: + additional charges for the various activities

The original Casela Bird Park has been incorporated into the 4,500-hectare Yemen Park inland between Tamarin and Flic en Flac. The Rempart and Tamarin Rivers run through what is now a family activities/safari adventure resort on the west coast. Activities include walking through the bush with lions and cheetahs, quad-biking or taking a beach buggy or Segway ride through the game reserve, canyoning through a river gorge, zip-lining on steel cables down a waterfall ending in the pool at its base, more roam freely through grasslands.

Young deer can be fed at a petting zoo with food bought on site. Giant tortoises, peacocks are other residents.

And when you are exhausted and hungry, enjoy a meal in the restaurant at the top of the hill offering great views.

Hotels in Ile Maurice, Mauritius